AB0422 SODIUM BICARBONATE MOUTH RINSE IS A USEFUL SELF-CARE METHOD FOR DRY MOUTH IN PATIENTS WITH SJÖGREN’S SYNDROME
Authors: N. Azuma, K. Matsui
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2022)

Background Patients with Sjögren’s syndrome (SS) present various symptoms related to dry mouth. While hyposalivation is believed to be the main cause, saliva has various beneficial physiological effects on the intraoral environment, and qualitative changes in its composition should also be considered as a cause of the refractory intraoral manifestations in SS. One of the physiological effects of saliva is buffering, and salivary bicarbonate (HCO3-) is the main determinant of salivary buffering capacity. Since salivary concentration of bicarbonate heavily depends on the rate of salivary secretion, salivary buffering capacity and oral pH decrease in patients with dry mouth; this is associated with the development of dental caries and oral candidiasis. It is considered that sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse is effective for suppressing these intraoral disorders. It is also a practical self-care method because it is inexpensive and can be made at home. Objectives To investigate the usability and changes in symptoms associated with dry mouth after use of sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse in SS patients. Methods The subjects were 27 SS patients (female: male =24:3, mean age 62.9 years, primary SS: secondary SS =24:3, mean disease duration 12.3 years) who had used sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse (dissolve about 5 g of commercially available baking soda in 500 cc of water in a plastic bottle. Put this sodium bicarbonate water in the mouth and rinse the mouth for 30 seconds to 1 minute so as to reach throughout the oral cavity). We investigated usage status, usability, and changes in subjective symptoms using a questionnaire. During their using the mouth rinse, medication and countermeasures against dry mouth in the daily life continued as usual. Results More than half of the patients had no knowledge of sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse (n=15; 55.6%). Highest frequency of use was twice a day (n=9; 33.3%), and common use situations were before bedtime (n=18; 66.7%), after meals (n=17; 63.0%), and at waking up (n=11; 40.7%). Twenty patients (74.1%) had “very good” or “good” sense of use. Eighteen patients (66.7%) had relief of symptoms related to dry mouth. Pros were “feeling refreshed in the mouth” (n=14; 51.9%), followed by “becomes less sticky” (n=8; 29.6%), “easy to make” (n=7; 25.9%), and “inexpensive” (n=6; 22.2%). Some respondents said they had less glossitis, stomatitis, and angular cheilitis (n=4; 14.8%). For cons “troublesome” was the highest (n=10; 37.0%), followed by responses regarding “taste” (n=6; 22.2%). There were also many responses to “none in particular” (n=7; 25.9%). No obvious accidents occurred, and 20 (74.1%) of them replied that they would like to continue to use the sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse. Conclusion In addition to the inhibition of dental caries and oral candidiasis, removal of tongue plaque and refreshing feeling in the mouth after rinsing due to its mucolytic effect, reduction of halitosis-causing volatile sulfur compounds, and improvement of gingivitis have been reported as effects of sodium bicarbonate. However, reports on the effects of sodium bicarbonate on dry mouth in SS patients are scarce. These results suggest that sodium bicarbonate mouth rinse is considered to be a useful self-care method that can compensate for the salivary buffering capacity that is impaired in SS patients and may reduce dry mouth symptoms. Since it is easy to continue and safe, it is worth actively incorporating it into the standard treatment for SS. Evaluation in more patients with objective indices is desired in the future. References [1]Gambino A, et al. Gerodontology. 34: 208-214, 2017. Disclosure of Interests None declared